PANEL 1 (top) Frame description: Top-down 3:4 wide shot, glass boardroom table, ten former colleagues seated, the new CEO standing at the head — her red suit matches her old graduation gown Dialogue or narration: [Narration] "Three years. The exact same table." Reading-eye direction: Eye enters top-center, freezes on the red suit against the grey boardroom Vertical note: Top panel sets mood — color contrast is the entire hook --- AUTO-SCORE --- Visual impact (1-10): 9 — red suit against grey boardroom is genre-loaded Character consistency (1-10): 7 — wide shot, face is small but distinctive (red suit anchor) Story momentum (1-10): 7 — "three years" sets a clock without revealing Panel rhythm (1-10): 8 — quiet establishing panel that earns the next two Aggregate: 7.9 --- 3 TWEAKS --- TWEAK 1: Add a specific prop on the table — a framed photo of the sister at her old graduation, face-down (boosts character consistency and story momentum) TWEAK 2: Replace the wide boardroom with a tighter top-down on the contract she is about to sign (boosts visual impact) TWEAK 3: Cut "three years" — replace with one visible clock on the wall: 3:00 PM, the exact time she was fired (boosts visual impact and story momentum) PANEL 2 (middle) Frame description: 9:16 split-frame vertical, the new CEO on the left third, her former best friend on the right third, the contract between them Dialogue or narration: "You told me I would never sit at this table." Reading-eye direction: Eye enters center on the contract, splits to the two faces, holds on the friend's hand tightening Vertical note: Middle panel shows action — the first conflict surfaces --- AUTO-SCORE --- Visual impact (1-10): 9 — the contract between two faces is genre-loaded Character consistency (1-10): 8 — the red suit anchor continues, friend's face is consistent Story momentum (1-10): 9 — "you told me" is a direct accusation, the reader must see the next panel Panel rhythm (1-10): 8 — peak-conflict panel, breaks the quiet opener Aggregate: 8.6 --- 3 TWEAKS --- TWEAK 1: Add a beat — the friend is reaching for the contract, the new CEO's hand is on it (boosts character consistency and visual impact) TWEAK 2: Replace the dialogue with a single word: "Remember?" (boosts story momentum) TWEAK 3: Add a hand prop — the new CEO is holding the friend's old resignation letter, the same paper she signed three years ago (boosts visual impact) PANEL 3 (bottom) Frame description: 9:16 extreme close-up, the new CEO's hand on the contract, the signature line empty, her wedding band tan line visible on her left ring finger Dialogue or narration: "I didn't come back for the company. I came back for this." Reading-eye direction: Eye enters on the empty signature line, freezes on the tan line Vertical note: Bottom panel holds the cliffhanger — the tan line is the unrevealed --- AUTO-SCORE --- Visual impact (1-10): 9 — empty signature line + tan line is unique Character consistency (1-10): 9 — close-up of the same hand, the tan line is the continuity anchor Story momentum (1-10): 9 — "I didn't come back for the company" is a promise the reader needs fulfilled Panel rhythm (1-10): 8 — quiet closing panel, the rhythm is "loud-quiet-loud-quiet" Aggregate: 8.8 --- 3 TWEAKS --- TWEAK 1: Add the friend's reaction — her hand is frozen mid-reach for the contract (boosts story momentum) TWEAK 2: Show the new CEO's eyes in the corner of the frame, looking at the friend, not the contract (boosts character consistency and story momentum) TWEAK 3: Add a sound effect: a small "shing" of the CEO's pen cap being clicked open (boosts visual impact and panel rhythm)